By Josh Cline

Social media is a tool. It is a channel, like a newspaper or radio; a media channel and a communication channel. What does this mean for public relations practitioners?

One of the main reasons to hire a public relations agency is because they have the connections with the media, industry-knowledge and know how to communicate a message. They aren’t just relying on a media database, but have real relations or the know-how to build others. PR practitioners gain these relationships primarily through networking, whether it’s a cocktail party, industry event, or trade show. Public relations agencies succeed because of their personal relationships with journalists, other influencers and new relationships they know how to cultivate.  Read more...

By Josh Cline

It’s not about Facebook or Twitter. It’s not about the newspaper or radio either. It’s about reaching your audience, wherever they are. When planning a marketing campaign, it’s wrong to say “We want an ad in the paper” or “We want a Facebook page.” Before determining the channel, determine your audience and where your audience is.

One of the first steps of a POST analysis is determining the “People” – your audience, as well as what their usage habits are. The first step is seeing how the audience uses media. If you’re targeting college students, use social networks. If you are reaching out to business travelers, consider ratings and reviews sites. Senior donors? Try a print newsletter or mailing. Single moms, middle aged women? Perhaps a Facebook game. Business person? Maybe an e-mail newsletter.  Read more...

By Josh Cline

One of the first things clients want when they hear “online” or “social media” is “viral.” But, the first thing I tell clients is that “viral is an outcome, not a strategy.” Online marketing – whether it is social media, e-mail, web, apps, or, ideally, an integrated marketing campaign – is a long-term effort filled with community and relationship building: not a campaign to start and stop at whim.

Unfortunately, there are too many out there selling ‘social media snake oil’ and promising to make your content go viral. “Viral” however is the direct outcome of creating quality relationships, having a worthwhile product/service, and being open and authentic – over time.  Read more...

The following is a guest post from Barak Taragin, a University of Maryland business student who served as an intern for The Cline Group this summer.

As a new explorer in the sea known as the job market, I have been told that in order to successfully navigate my way through these dangerous and unpredictable waters I need my map (resume) because, as we all know, these have been used by explorers, rookie and veteran, for hundreds of years.  Read more...

LinkedIn is a very important social network for business connections. But is it used correctly? Do your connections even know who you are?

Karen Rubin of HubSpot has some great suggestions how to avoid one of her big LinkedIn pet peeves.

I first blogged the latest edition of Socionomic’s now ubiquitous video about how the media landscape has changed to digital and its social implications back in December. Now, six months later, the world has changed again and Socionomics has come out with a new video called Social Media Revolution 2 (though not the second edition of their video, which has been around for over a year – an eternity in the age of the iPad).

A few facts, from Socionomics:  Read more...

1. Over 50% of the world’s population is under 30-years-old
2. 96% of them have joined a social network